Cranes are any of several wading birds comprising the 15 species of the family Gruidae, order Gruiformes. There are;
Common Crane
Sandhill Crane
Whooping Crane
Sarus Crane
Brolga
Siberian Crane
White-naped Crane
Hooded Crane
Black-necked Crane
Red-crowned Crane
Blue Crane
Demoiselle Crane
Black Crowned Crane
Grey Crowned Crane
Wattled Crane
Crane Places
They are found most everywhere except in the Antarctic and South America. The plumage is usually brown, gray, or white. Such species as the crowned crane, Balearica Pavonina, of Africa are particularly striking in appearance, and many species have unfeathered areas, sometimes brightly colored, around the head. Cranes often have loud, resonant cries. The trachea, or windpipe, in some species is convoluted into the keel of the sternum, a condition that facilitates the production of sound. Most cranes are terrestrial, preferring marshy conditions. They feed on plant materials and a wide variety of small animals. Their nests, usually containing two eggs, are on the ground in marshy areas. The crowned crane, however, occasionally nests in low trees. At least five crane species are in danger of extinction.
The Crane Symbolism
The Cranes' beauty and their spectacular mating dances have made them highly symbolic birds in many cultures with records dating back to ancient times. Crane mythology is widely spread and can be found in areas such as the Aegean, South Arabia, Japan and in the Native American cultures of North America. In northern Hokkaido, the women of the Ainu people, whose culture performed a crane dance. In Korea, a crane dance has been performed in the courtyard of the Tongdosa Temple since the Silla Dynasty 646 CE. In Mecca, in pre-Islamic South Arabia, the goddesses Allat, Uzza, and Manah, who were believed to be daughters of and intercessors with Allah, were called the "The Three Exalted Cranes".
A crane is considered auspicious in Japan and Vietnam. It is one of the symbols of longevity and is often represented with other symbols of long life, such as pine, bamboo, and the tortoise. Vietnamese people consider Crane and Dragon to be symbols of their culture. In feudal Japan the Crane was protected by the ruling classes and fed by the peasants. According to Japanese tradition, if one folds 1000 origami Cranes one's wish for health will be granted. Since the death of Sadako Sasaki this applies to a wish for peace as well.
For traditional Chinese 'Heavenly Cranes' (tian-he) or 'Blessed Cranes' (xian-he) were messengers of wisdom. Legendary Taoist sages were transported between heavenly worlds on the backs of cranes.
The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Stylist
The Crane stylist prefers a harmonious environment and would sooner walk away from a conflict than even consider partaking in it. The Crane Stylist is a dancer, the most beautiful mover of all the Shaolin Animals. It's forms a beautiful, graceful and full of elegance. All though all movements, each turn and hop, each pause have a meaning, often a Crane stylists practice of form will look more like a dance. They are very light on their feet and can be mistaken for Ballet Dancers at the highest level
The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Tools
The Crane Stylist has no Weapons. As with the Crane, all parts are tools, wings, claws and beak. Much so for the Crane Stylist, there are no special tools, hand shapes or teaches. Everything results from a movement. A flung out hand, a whirling foot or the pecking Cranes Beak (the only Crane Specific Hand Shape). The Crane Stylist would not use any strong technique, choosing first to avoid and attack and whilst moving to safety and 'accidental' foot, hand or beak could land on the opponent. In no way would the Crane stylist go out of their way to apply a technique, all would be incidental to the move of escaping and avoiding; dancing away.
The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Preferences
A twitch of the foot, a slap of the hand, a flick of the fingers, a short grab and twist at the wrist, and extended tripping leg, the Crane Stylist would use no or little force of their own choosing to allow their attacker to defeat themselves.
An old Chinese saying goes
"A Crane is like a drop after drop of water,
individually/seemingly doing nothing but wearing out over time, inevitably".
Ideally, the Crane seeks to convince their attacker(s) to stop attacking by with patience, corrective guides (strikes & kicks) and more patience. The longer the Crane is attacked, the more 'education' the attacker will receive. The Crane will neither increase or decrease their defence but will allow the attacker to be the architect of their own education and learning.
Understanding The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane
Cranes like being with Cranes. They are also Ok with other stylists. They can handle Tigers well, their speciality; and often like to partner with them seemingly allowing them to lead. They are very wary of Panthers and can be very dangerous to Snakes. As long as no one is aggressive, the Crane will stay. As soon as the mood changes or even starts to change, the Crane (Stylists) will want to leave (fly away).
Where a major part of being a Tiger is Strong Physical Presence and Power and the Panther it is Strong Mental presence and Prowess, the Crane is Intuitive, Instinctive, Empathic, Light & Elegant. Empathy allows the Crane to tap into the Attacker psyche and know what will happen before it actually happens. The Crane is very switched on understanding others.
But what if you do not have one of these major character traits yet in spirit are a Shaolin Crane?
The Shaolin Cranes Aspects
All the Shaolin Animals have their Alterant and Shadow aspects. The alterant aspects represent many or most of the Crane Character traits with one or two significant differences. Shadow aspects are those the stylist might resort to when they have nothing to loose.
Shadow of the Crane
Phoenix/Rooster
This is the person who leaves everything for the last moment and thus put's themselves under pressure to do what needs to be done. This can also be the person who has nothing to loose and will do what ever it takes to achieve what needs to be achieved. Like a Phoenix sacrificing itself in flame to stop an opponent from causing any further damage or harm.
Aspects of the Crane
Horse
Is the style that allows itself to loose, become one of the enemy if it means to survive. There is a special skill involved whereby you give yourself over almost entirely except for that deeply hidden spark which, at the right time, in the right circumstances would be rekindled. Note - Some POW used this skill to survive mentally intact.
Vulture
It is the classical negative Crane. It is on your side but just for it's own gains. It is like a spy or terrorist but never attacking yet always causing problems and havoc. It destroys their opponent from within.
The Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Forms
Crane forms are best trained to music; not a beat but gliding, flowing light music. If a ballet dancer would occasionally throw out a Cranes Wing, a Cranes Beak or Claw, than that would be a Cranes Dance. Forms in the aspect in Shaolin Kung Fu are;
Raptor Crane (Control & Grace)
The Butterfly Crane (Flow and Grace)
Iron and Silk Crane (Form of Changes)
The Dancing Crane (Movement and Interchange with Fans)
The Flying Crane (Slow and Deliberate)
The Directional Crane (Change of speed, direction and height)
RU a Crane Personality
Cranes are people people. They prefer the company of friends and don't really mind what they do if their friends/family/flock are their to. You have Crane tendencies if;
you prefer people instead of experience
aim at achieving outcome by consensus rather than by detail
if you think more talk and less violence is a solution to most conflicts
you can get depressed easily unless you are with a kindred spirit or thinking/remembering being with a friend/family member
when you easily adapt to the general feeling of the human environment
when you like to play anything as long as it is with people you like
when you believe that everyone is inherently good
The Ideal Shaolin Kung Fu Crane Practitioner
Light Body and Mind, strong Hips and Legs, graceful movements, exceedingly well balanced and all around elegant. This is what you aspire to be. You don't like any type of competition; like training just for the sake and beauty; prefer to dance with an audience and just as much likes watching others perform. You like to look your best, even dress up, don't mind costumes for performances and generally like making your dances visually and auditory spectacular. Music, Color and Form together is art.
The Shaolin Kung Fu Cranes Strategy
The Crane does not attack only counter attack. It would do this from any angle except the front. It would always side step the attack; possibly using it's wings to mask the movement, change direction again, possibly to deliver a technique to the attacker. It is a master of evading supported by blocking and redirection. It would seek to frustrate it's opponent, helping it to defeat itself.
The Crane prefers to use any technique that causes no permanent harm. It's preference would be annoying techniques, energy sapping strategies, (like water wearing down rock,) rather than a single blow or finishing technique. It would seek to give it's opponent the ability to stop and reflect on the consequences of it's aggression, seeking to teach/show it the error of violence. For this it would - like a mother or mentor - seem to be cruel to be kind.
